Pasqtjale galassi



P. GALASSI FLOOR LAYING DEVICE Filed May 19, 1927 vwentoz .w m w mw M Pw M n@ Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE. y

PAsQUALE GALAssI, oF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLOOR-LAYING DEVICE.

i Application filed May 19, 1927. Serial N0. 192,661.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of floors made of plasticmaterial such as terrazzo, granolithic and stucco, and more particularly the invention refers to a novel and improved type of strip suitable for use in laying floors of the character specied for the purpose of producing various designs, at the saine time preventing or localizing'cracking of the floor.

Terrazzo', granolithic and similar floors where various combinations of design may be produced, usually comprise a lower bed oi' layer of concrete, cement, mortar or other suitable material which is spread in semiliquid form of the proper consistency on the 'door foundation, and an upper or finishing layer of'better grade material, generally consisting of a mixture of marble chips andtcement', by means of which a good durable surface may be obtained as well as pleasingde- "sign `and coloreffects of a practically unlimited variety.

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then the interstices or empty spaces remainv ingfare filled, in order to complete the floor surface. i s

Owing to ndifiic y lties experienced in laying and removing these wooden strips, and espey cially owing to the fact that n'ionolithic iioors having alarge surface obtained in this manner are frequently subject to crackingdue to changes in tei'nperatureor dueto stresses `induced by the setting and drying of the material, it has become customary during recent years to define the design of theloor `byuneans of thin met-al strips set onedge, projecting frointhe surface of the under` bed through theentire thickness of the upper layer, their upper-edge being on the level `with the surface of the floor when finished.

"These strips are permanently left in position,v and become an integral part of the floor, so that the floor is-etcctivelygseparated into `a `number of small units which are iniinitely less liable rto crack than a largeunit :and which, if they do, are easily replaced.

'The strips used for this purpose, should being laid. i

be made of relatively soft metal, the Wearing Vqualities of `which should be approximately the saine as those of tlie finished iloor suriace. 1n practice, I prefer to use brass strips vbecause this metal just about answers this requirement and in addition it confers a rich and ornamental appearance to the floon @Owing to the expensive nature of this metal however, it is desirable to Yeconomize in the quantities used, in order to keep i the cost of the floor Within reasonable limits; on f.

the other hand, if 'the strips have `to eiicieiitly fulfill their function, they have to possess sufficient rigidity to prevent theirrbecoming iiexed or deformedwhile the floor is lt is also necessary forithe stripsiobe laid in such amanneras to insure theinperfeet vertical alignment and also, of course, gheir alignment deining the design of the oor.` i

The strips shouldalso be; so designed y `they can be laid in positionfwith a minimum amount of labor and time 'for the sake.l of efficiency and low oost of production.

Metal strips of various designs `have here-i tofore been usedgfor the 1purpose mentioned, but it-has beenmy` experience thatstrips found `on the market generalglyflack the,nec essai-y rigidity unless they are `madeoutnof heavy gauge metal entailing a correspondingly high cost. I yhave also found that great care is generally required-inlaying these strips in order to produce apperfect `design and in order (to insure thef; vertical alignment of the strips. g `The primary object of this invent-iongis to provide a type of stripsuitablefor the` purpose specified, the construction'fof'Whichjs such as to automatically `insure perfect ,ver-

tical alignment of the strip, atthefsame.time` conferring relatively, `great rigidity` of the` strip without ent-ailing excessive cost.

" Another object is to provide a strip adapted for 'laying of floors of the character specified, affording convenient means, for handling the strip when it issbeing-laid, permit- `ting its being placedin thecorrect position with a minimum expenditure ottime and labor. i

A` further means foi-.securely i anchoring the strip 'tothe loorbed. f y i object is torovideadevice of i `the,character specified, o a relatively simple `and inexpensive construction, provided zwith y still furtherobjectis prcvide of strip forlayingfloors ot the character specified which is Well adapted 'for luse in connection with aligning sockets arranged at the junction points ot strips delining various iioor panels, insuring their correct alignment, such as described and claimed in a patentzentitled Floor and inetliod` and apparatus for laying,tr saine, Serial No. 1,377,675,"granted to ine May l0, 1921.

" @ther Objects and advantages ot the presnent invention will incre fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set 'forth and clannedin the appended claiins.

My intention will be more readily unden stood by reierring` `to the accompanying drawings,` in which i -Fig, l is a plan ola floor illustrating the manner in which the strips are used;

Fig, 2 is a fragmentary View in perspec- "tive" partlysectioned ot' the preferred construction ot strip 'forming the object ot this invent-ion i Fig. 3 is alveii'tical cross section showing thelayer of'concrete or other material Ytorining the under bed of the tloor with one ot lthe strips" laid in position; 'p Figlt is a vieni7 similar to Fig. 2l, showing` the floor after completion;

Figxis a sectional View ot the strip in an enlarged scale showing one oilt the Ways ot securely locking` togethertlietwo elements of Which thestrip is eoinposed at tive of the end ola strip especially designed `fo`iuse in connection with pinetion sockets of, the type described. and claimed in my pct/hei* patent above referred to;

Figa 8 is a VView in perspective illustrating;l

" onei'fcrin of "socket 'which may be` used in Connection with the, strip illustrated in Fig. 7 g y Y Y y f Y l 'Fig'. 9 1s a `fragmentary plan View ot a sin stiipjunctionpoint illustrating the inani ner of insertingthe ends oi' the strips into the. junction socket; l ,fv'fFig. l0v 'sa cross 'sectional View -o'l a strip of a somewhat inodiiied construction;

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Fig'. v1l isa cross sectional View illi'istrat- `ing' another'possible` modification in thc 'construction of a strip still included Within `.the scope of iny invention; and

` Fig. l2 is Ya `cross sectional `View-olistill another strip oitV a somewhat niodilied con-- struction.

In Fig. l, 20 designates a floor comprising 'aborder 2l, an inner rectangular row oi' square panels 22, and central portion 23 composed of a nuinber `of panels cit various forms," 24, 25, 26, 7, said panels being divided from the border and troni one an-Y "othei by a plurality of strips QS, delining the design ot' the floor. The design shown is, of course, intended only to illustrate the possibility of producing a great variety of de* sign combinations alloided by the use of the strips.

Ane strip units are composed of a strip ineinber proper 28, and a supporting ineini jacent the ends thereof, according;` to the sys-` `tern oi licor layinpr which niay be adopted.

rThe supporting nieinber is sheath or channel inadc oil relatively lightgauge nietal into which the lower edge ot the strip ineinber is Ainserted and retained, said sheath or channel being prrwided with one or two laterally extendingllanges which serve` as suiliporting and vertically aligning ineans 'for the strip unit.

According to the desie'n shown in F 2 to 7, the supporting nien'ibei is obtained by folding a strip ci instal oi suitable length and Width along its longitudinal middle line to lorni a U channel and then by bending sideways the two edgeportions ol said lJ shape, forming); t-Wo longitudinal side flanges 30, 3l; l

The lower edge oi the strip nieinber is then inserted through the upper portion ot the slot, separatinethe two legs oi the U shape and the tivo elements are then pret eil-ably joined together by partially punching' and 'forcingw out laterally, burrs or lugs ot the three adjoining thicknesses ot nietal, :toriniiig` spaced. prongl niernbers 33, laterally projectingr troni the channel portieri of the supporting nieinber.

These prongs may all be hentlo one side or else they n'iay he bent in alternate directions as shown in Fig. (l, Where 3? designate the prongs bent to the right. and 33 those bent to the leflt ot the strip unit. Y

The loworpart oi' the il portion oi' the supporting` member is preferably pressed so i as to bi'ing'its tiro sides against each other forming a ribinoinber such as shown at and providing' a solid support for the lower edge ot' the strip ineniber by causing' a support-ing' surface to be 'loruied under the lower edge olI the strip ineniber by portions of the sides inwardly bent at 35 to forni the rib inenilier''ll i By Virt-ue ot this construction, the two element-s of which 'the strip is composed are perinanentlyand securelyconnected to each other to :foii'ni a simile unit adapted to be conveniently handled and placed in position with a minimum expenditure ot' time and laaoi.

lVhen a. floor is laid, the `bed 20 is prepared inthe usual Way by spreadingv con` Vcrete ora iniizture of lPortland cenient andV sand, or mortar, ci'otheii' suitable material over `the. tlooi ioundation, said bed beingr brought up to a level, one-half inch to threequarters of an inch of the finished surface. lniother words, the upper layer is usually froml one-half to three-quarters of anineh .sired desigmwhile the bed is still sott, and

inorder t-o do this all that is necessary is to hold the strip units composing the design by the portion of the strip member upwardly projecting from the supporting member and then to torce the rib and channel members of the supporting member through the floor bed until the angesrest on the upper surt'ace .ot said bed. This automatically insures a correct. vertical alignment ot' the strip member, eliminating the necessity of exerting the extreme care in laying which is required byother types oit` strips. i

The laterally extending prongs 33, 38',

proiidevery veffective anchoring means for the strip units. becoming embedded in the concrete oriother material otI which the bed is composed, whichis automatically forced all around the prongs when it` `is pressed down by the flanges 30, 3l coming in contact therewith. i i

After the outlining operation has been completed, the wearing surtace 20 may be immediately laid, although it is` frequently found preferable to allow the bed to set over night, or for twenty four hours before the wearing surface is laid.

' The entire surfacecan be Alaid `at one time without' waiting t'or certain sections to be vset. before others are laid, any mixing of the differently colored the strips 28.

Itis obvious that by virtue of the conpanels being avoided by `struction described, I provide a strip unit having great rigidity and strength, which can be laid at a single operation and which automatically insures correct vertical alignment ot the strips and a firm anchorage.

The strip unit thus obtained also represents a. notable advantage from the standpoint of economy, because while the strip member 28 `may be madeof brass, the supporting memlier is preferably made of Zinc or other siitablerelatively inexpensive material.

For instance, lhave. found-that sheet iron is also well suited for this purpose, because iron is well preserved by cement and also because an intimate contact between is greatly enhanced and the Apossibility of using relatively light gauge materials `fora given length of strip is also afforded.

Although, due to the trfctional resistance engendered by the surface ofthe supporting member in contact with the concrete or other material. and'especially` theresistance offered by the prongs or other Vanchoring ineans used, `a strip will usually rein-ain placed 'in the position in, which-it was orig` inally set, yet the. work Yot' placing the strips in -their correct relative position in order to produce the outline oi agiven de- .sign is greatlyt'acilitated by the use of `socket members at the junction "point, such as described and claimed iii my other pati ent above referred to. u i i i These sockets `are substantially in the shape ot connecting members having several branches extending from a common junction l point in the direction ell' the strips converging to said point, each branch being formed with a slotted housinghaving two `parallel wallslictween which the end `of 'a strip may be inserted and retained. i i

Onepossible manner of constructioiimoft' these sockets is illustrated in Fig. 8reprefseating a cross shaped socket. `The elen'ients out of which sockets of various designs may be produced are lengths et strips longitudinally eiiiliossed to form a halt rib portion 36` and a haltl housing portion 3T offset theret'roiii, a distance equivalent/to halt the thickness oit the strip to be received by `each l 'auch of the socket. l 4 I In other words, it' two portions of` a strip thus embossed are joined side by side withtheir rib portions abutting, the two hallI rib portions ,will ,form the rib Vmember 28 and the two halt housing portions will form ahousing 39, the width of which is equivalent tothe thickness ot `the. metal strip to be inserted therethrough.l

By taking pieces ot embossed strip of a length equivalent to twice the length of each branch otl the socket to be produced, and bending theniii'iidway ottheir length at angles corresponding to the angular distance between adjoining branches of the same socket, it is possible to puttheniftogether to form a completed socket, the various parts being held together by rivets such as shown at 40, connecting adjoining half rib por tions of said members, or by any other suitable means.

For instance, the cross `shaped socket" shown in Fig. 8 is coiiipiised of four members al, eachvbent at right `angle and put together with their apeXes converging towards a central or joining point 4t2.` By4 virtue `ol this arrangement, the half rib portion el? one member abuts against the halt rib portion ot an adjoining member and the tour members can be connected `together by ineans'ot' ,the rivets 40, as shown, ,the result lill being the completed socket withV vtour branches `directed at right `angle to one another. l v

A socket thus Vobtainedcan be made so 'that the width `of its slotted portions is sullicient to receive the width ot' the rib portion Stof the sup'iorting member 2:., or else it lmay be made; so as to receive the width olf the` stripymen'iber 2S. n the type ol strip shown the thickness of rib portion praetieally equivalent to the thickness oit the stripy member 28,-so that a socket member which will tit the "one will also ,tit the other.l

llVhen the socket member is used, in connection with the rib portion 3ft, the rib portion 3 ot the socket rmember will remain iuiderneath the rib portion til-fl ot tl i strip, and therefore Ythe socket meniliers wilt be enibedded `inthe concrete bed to a greater depth than the strips; lVhenthe depth ot the iloor bed is comparatively lfiniitod, it may he desirable to `have the socket nien'ibers embedded tlieretlirough, at about the saine depth as the strips `tl'iemselves and no more, and iu this lcase, the unitary strips may ne produced with the strip memherl longer than the supporting member 2W, strip member 2li projeotiirg Vbeyond the supporting member 29 `at `both ends as shown at ell.

This may either `be done when the strip is produced originally ofthe proper leniprtliv as vrequired by the relative position occupied b7 the stri) in producing the outline ot the design ot' the floor, or else the elementary strips may be cut oil a suitahlelength and then thcend portions ot the supporting member `may he cut and detached :troni the main bodythereoft, allowing the ends et the strip member to "project outwardly as shown in Fig. 7.v

ln AFig. 9, l illustrate the resulting structure when a- `six branca socket elet is used to connect sii; strips d5. etti, 47, Ato, l0, 5t), converging `tmvards the central pointl. 'ithis structure isohtained'by using strip units having the ends ot vtheir strip i'iienihers projecting beyond the-remis` oit their suriliiorting members, the ends ot' their strip niembers being inserted in the hraiiches otthe sor-hott. `This arrmie'en'ient has the added advanb tage. that the laterally extending 'tti ot the supporting uieniibers do not oierlap one another, due to the distance separating them vtrom thecentral point l, so that a perito/ct leveling oit' the various strips is assured.

lihense ot the sockets olf especial ad vantage in the production ol1 designs where the strips are not in alignment with one another. tor instance, in such a junction arrangement. as shown at 52, in l. "llhe sockets can also be used in square or reeH tangularcheckered designs it desired, but in suoli cases. it is also easier to lay long` lengths oi" llongitudinal parallel strips such as shown at 53, 5l, extending tor the entire nemesis lengtlror `Width of the door and then to lay transverse strips between adjoining lons gitudinai strips without the necessity et using sockets, `it desired.

lllhile the supporting' member of the strip previously described is termed with twolat eral ianges, it is also possible to obtain satisfactory results `if only. one flange is ems ployedas shown in Fig. l0, where 55` designatos thestrip member and 56 the supporting member therefor pro-vided with single laterally extending tlange 57.

ylfhis arrangement is also advantageous for some special purposes, like tor instance, the laying et strips all around the lioor separating the floor from the surrounding walls.

n this case, the side ot the strip which is without 'tiange laid against the wall and the llanged side 'tacos the inside ot the roon'i. lt is also possible to simplify the construetion ol'l the device in other directions, tor.

instance, the supporting member n'iay simply be made in the torni of a U housing with one or two laterally extending flanges without the rib portion TS-t shown in the previous drawings, as evidenced by the arrangement illustrated in Fig'. ll, where 58 is the strip member having its lower edge 59 resting on the bottoni ot' the U housing or channel formed by the'supporting member ti() which is provided lile in the previous cases with one or 'two laterally extending tlanges (il, (Sil.

This construction is especially desirable when an extreniely thin tloor bed is available. rtnother possible modification is illustrated in Fig. l2, where 63 designates the strip men'iber and 64:` the supporting member which bent in e shape instead ot -U shape and is provided with one or two laterally exteiiding tlanges 65, 6G. ln order to produce the completed devices the sides ot the VA shape are spread apart sufficiently to Areceive the lower edge of the strip niember between the upper portion ot their legs and the two elements areV connected together by punching or bending prongs 6T through the three cou'ipleted unit results torn'ied with an upwardly projecting rib inen'ibcr. constituted h v the upper portion et the strip member arttording a very .convenient means or holding and handling the strip while it is being llt) llt)

laid, this feature facilitating the laying of` poses and not in a limiting); sense.

Accordingly, l reserve mysel f the right to carry my invention into practice in any way or manneirwhich may enter fairly into the scope of the appended claims.`

l claim: i. n i

l. A dividing strip for terranno and siinilar floors comprising a strip memberadapted to terminate on a level with and to divide the upperlayer of the floor, anda supporting member therefor, permanently connected thereto, comprising a rib member adapted to be inserted into the floor bed, and supporting means laterally extending from said rib member adapted to rest on top of said'bed,

said rib member being formed with a channel portion adapted to receive the lower edge of said strip member and a rib portion'downf` wardly extending from said channel portion.

2. A dividing strip `for terrazzo'and similar floors, comprising a stripmcmber adapted to terminate "on a level with and to divide the upper layer of the floor, and a support- 'ing member therefor, comprising a rib mem` ber adapted to beinserted into the iioorbed,

and supportingmeans laterally extending therefrom, adapted to rest on top of said bed, said rib member being adapted to receive the lower edge of said strip member and being permanently"connected thereto, by forcing outwardly portions of the adjoining metal surfaces of said two members at spaced intervals along the length of said strip.

3. A dividing strip for terrazzo and similar floors, comprising a strip member adapt-` ed to terminate on a level with and to divide i the upper layer of the floor, and a supporting member therefor, comprising a rib member adapted to be inserted into the floor bed, and supporting means laterally extending therefrom, adapted to rest on top of said bed, said rib member being adapted to receive the lower edge of said strip member and being permanently connected thereto, by forcing outwardly portions ofthe adj oining metal surfaces of said two members at spaced intervals alongTl the length of said strip, said outwardlyforccd portions forming laterally extending prongs adapted to anchor said strip into said bed.

4. A dividing strip for terrazzo and similar fioors comprising a strip member adapted to terminate on a .level `with and to divide the upper layer of thel floon and a support- .j ing member therefor, comprising a rib member adapted to be inserted into the floor bed,

of said bed,'said `rib member `being formed with a Achannel portion adapted to receive the loweil edge of said strip member and a rib portion downwardly extending `from said channel portion, said strip .member being permanently connected to said rib member by forcing outwardly, portions ofthe adjoining metal surfacesof said two members :it spacedintervals along the length of said strip. 'w 5. A dividing strip 'for terrazzo and simi` lar floors 4comprisinga strip member ada 3t-` ed to terminate onalevel with and todivrde the upperlayer ofthe floor, anda support-` ing member therefor, comprising a rib mem-i ber adapted to be insert-ed into the floor bed,- and supporting means laterally extending fromsaid rib member adapted to rest .on top` of saidbed, `said rib `member being formed with a channel portion adapted Ito receive the lower edge of said strip member and a rib portion downwardly extending from said channel portion, saidistrip member being permanently connected to said rib member by forcing outwardly, portions ofithe ad-` 905 joining metal surfaces of said two members atspaced .intervals along the length `of saidv strip, said outwardly forced portions form-l ing laterally yextending prongs adapted. to anchor said strip into saidbed. L Y

`6. A dividing strip for terrazzo and. simi;` lar iioors comprising a strip member adapt-v ed to terminate on a level and todividethe- Lipper `layer of the floor, and aI supporting member therefor, comprising: a: lrib memben adapted to be inserted into the floor bed andia- Hange laterally extending from saidrib mem-u Y ber adapted to rest on top of said bed, said rib member being formed with a channel` portion adapted to receive the lower edge of said strip member and a rib portion downwardly extending from said channel portion, said strip member being permanently connected to said rib member by forcing-outwardly,

portions 'of the adjoining metal surfaces of 11o said two membersat spaced intervals along the length of said strip, said outwardly forced portions forming laterally extending i prongs adapted to anchor said strip into said bed. i f

7. In a device for laying terrazzo and simi lar floors, the combination of a plurality of dividing strips, each comprising 'a strip member adapted to terminate on a level with and to divide the upper layer of the floor, and a supporting member therefor, permanently connected thereto, comprising a rib member adapted to be inserted into the floor bed, `and supporting means laterally extend# j ing from said rib member adapted to rest on top of said bed, said rib lmember being adapted to receive the lower edge ofsaid strip member, said strip member having its ends projecting beyond the ends of said supporting member, and socket members in- 13o tending from said rib member adapted torest on top. offsaiid bed, saidl ribinember being 4formed with a channel portion adapted to receive the lower edge of said strip mem iberand a rib portion downwardly extending from said channel portion, saidstrip member being permanently connected to said rib member `by forcing outwardly, portions of the `adjoining metal surfaces of ysaid two members at spaced intervals along the length ofsaid strip, said outwardly forced portions forming laterally extending prongs .adapted to anchor said stripv into said bed.`

9; In a device for laying terrazzo and similar floors, the combination of a plurality ot `dividing strips, each comprising a strip member adaptedl to terminate on a level with and :to divide the upper layer of the floor, and ai supporting member therefor, `comprising a rib member adapted to be inserted into the oorfbed, and supporting means laterally extending thn'ef'rom,` adapted to rest on` top of said bed,` said rib member being adapted to receive the lower `edge of said strip meinber and `being:permanently connected thereto,` by forcing outwardly, portions of the adyjoining metall surfaces of said two members momia at spaced intervals along the length of said strip, saidv outwardly forced portions 0rming laterally extending prongs adapted to anchor said strip into said bed, said strip member having its ends projecting beyond the ends oit'lsaid supporting member, and socket members interlocking with and connecting` the projecting ends of said strip the lower edge ot said strip member and a i rib portion downwardly extending from said channel portion, said strip member being` permanently connected to said rib member by forcing outwardly, portions oit the ade joining metal surfaces oil said twoV members at spaced intervals along the length of said strip, said outwardly forced portions forming" laterallyextending' prongs adapted to anchor said strip into said bed,saifd strip .member having its `ends projecting beyond the ends of said supporting*` member, and socket members interlocking` with and conmembers at their junction points.-

PASQUALE GALASSI. 

